Methods and devices for treating primary headache

Abstract

Non-invasive electrical nerve stimulation devices and magnetic stimulation devices are disclosed, along with methods of treating medical disorders using energy that is delivered noninvasively by such devices. The disorders comprise migraine and other primary headaches such as cluster headaches, including sinus symptoms that resemble an immune-mediated response (“sinus” headaches), irrespective of whether those symptoms arise from an allergy that is co-morbid with the headache. The disclosed methods may also be used to treat other disorders that may be co-morbid with migraine headaches, such as anxiety disorders. In preferred embodiments of the disclosed methods, one or both of the patient's vagus nerves are stimulated non-invasively. In other embodiments, parts of the sympathetic nervous system and/or the adrenal glands are stimulated.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for treating a medical disorder in a patient, the method comprising:
 positioning a device comprising a housing and a source of energy, wherein the housing comprises a contact surface; 
 generating one or more electrical impulses within the device; 
 contacting an outer skin surface of the patient with the contact surface; and 
 transmitting, via the device, the one or more electrical impulses through the outer skin surface of the patient to a vague nerve of the patient, wherein the one or more electrical impulses is above a threshold for generating an action potential within a fiber of the vagus nerve responsible for activating neural pathways to cause a release of a sufficient level of GABA within a brain of the patient to at least partially relieve a symptom associated with the medical disorder. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more electrical impulses is sufficient to cause a release of serotonin within the brain of the patient. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more electrical impulses is sufficient to cause a release of norepinephrine within the brain of the patient. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more electrical impulses is sufficient to reduce a level of glutamate in a brain of the patient. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more electrical impulses comprises bursts of pulses. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  wherein the bursts of pulses are generated from a signal that is not modulated by another signal. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5  wherein each burst comprises a frequency from about 1 Hz to about 100 Hz. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 5  wherein each pulse comprises a duration from about 50 microseconds to about 1000 microseconds. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 5  wherein each pulse comprises a duration from about 200 microseconds to about 400 microseconds. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1  further comprising transmitting the one or more electrical impulses from one or more electrodes coupled to the device. 
     
     
       11. A device for treating a medical disorder in a patient, the device comprising:
 a housing comprising:
 an electrode; 
 a source of energy (1) configured to generate an electric field sufficient to at least partially relieve a symptom of the medical disorder, (b) coupled to the electrode, and (c) positioned within the housing; and 
 
 wherein the electrical field is sufficient to transmit one or more electrical impulses non-invasively through the electrode and the outer skin surface of the patient to a vague nerve of the patient, wherein the one or more electrical impulses is above a threshold for generating an action potential within a fiber of the vagus nerve responsible for activating a neural pathway causing a release of GABA within a brain of the patient. 
 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 11  wherein the one or more electrical impulses is sufficient to cause a release of serotonin within the brain of the patient. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 11  wherein the one or more electrical impulses is sufficient to cause a release of norepinephrine within the brain of the patient. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 11  wherein the one or more electrical impulses is sufficient to reduce a level of glutamate in a brain of the patient. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 11  wherein the one or more electrical impulses comprises bursts of pulses. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 15  wherein the bursts of pulses are generated from a signal that is not modulated by another signal. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 15  wherein each burst comprises a frequency from about 1 Hz to about 100 Hz. 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 15  wherein each pulse comprises a duration from about 50 microseconds to about 1000 microseconds. 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 15  wherein each pulse comprises a duration from about 200 microseconds to about 400 microseconds. 
     
     
       20. The device of  claim 11  wherein the source of energy comprises a signal generator.